Mexico? Wha...???

H

Haji

Joined
Feb 10, 1999
Messages
75
I've been hearing rumors from customers in the shop that there was an article in the San Diego Soviet Union Tribune that Buck was moving either some or all or parts or something to a manufacturing facility in Mexico. I did not see the article, because I can't stand the Tribune anymore. There's been only a few saying that, so I'm still inclined to believe it's a rumor. While I'm at it, I noticed in the '99 catalog that blade steel is listed as 420HC for most blades. Is this stuff already on the market, and if so, how do I tell which blades are which steel? Are they still date stamped? One last question: can I get a list of the date stamps from Buck? I think I saw them once in "Levine's Guide", but I don't have a current one. It would be nice to be able to tell customers when their knives were made. I saw a Pony the other day with the old English style stamp-I still like that one best.

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Hi Haji,
You can get an updated copy of the tang date stamps at the Buck Website in their FAQ section. Go to the hyperlink below:
www.buckknives.com/Pages/tech_faqs.html

I hope this helps.

As far as the steel type, someone correct me if I am wrong but I always assume all Buck knives are made of 420HC unless the tang is stamped with another steel grade such as the ATS34 and BG42 models. I'm not 100% on that, though but I bet Jeff or someone else can comment on that.

Regards,

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~Greg~

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 17 May 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 17 May 1999).]
 
Haji,
everything out of us that is not stamped with a steel type was MFG using 420HC. tHis switch was made in 1994 I think (I'll check). Before that it was 425mod... CJ and I are putting together a steel history for another thread and will try to create the whole steel timeline.

Jeff

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Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
Quality Supervisor

JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com

 
Haji,
I wanted to answer your Mexico question. We have been contracting with a facility in Tijuana, Mexico to assemble our Tools. We manufacture the parts and prepare "kits". They deliver every week finished goods and pick up another weeks worth of kits. There have been no facilities relocated, and no knife activities of any kind taking place in Mexico.

The facility is about a 45 minute drive from the plant and their assebly quality is good for the tools. This is an ongoing effort to produce the most cost effective tools. That marketplace has gone commoditylike so quickly.

Any other questions on this let me know.
 
Many thanks to the great folks at Buck! I totally agree with CJ: the multi-tool market is just nuts right now. I personally don't have a use for them, but we're still selling a lot of them, and the Bucktool is pretty popular. Will the tools be marked "Made in the US, assembled in Mexico" or somthing similar? If my store has Mexican made tools, I can't tell the difference from the US made ones. when I worked for Taylor Guitars, the best craftsmen there were all Hispanic.

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
There are no markings required on the product itself but the package is marked "Assembled in Mexico".

This little plant is a spin-off of a much larger plant and is totally dedicated to our products. It is very clean and they do really good work. We even taught them how to edge for the blades in the tool.

Jeff Hubbard is our point man on quality on this project and has handled it in a very methodical and tenacious manner.
 
Thanks, CJ! It matters not at all to me where they are assembled-I can't see any difference between the Mexican made tools and the earlier U.S. assembled ones. I'll move 'em no matter where they're put together. Thanks again for the info-it's pretty cool to get the word from Buck management to be able to accurately answer my customer's questions. After all, the Cutler's Cupboard has the reputation of knowing everything (or at least being able to fake it believably!).

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Haji,

I have a copy of the date markings from buck, somewhere. I'll find it, make a copy and drop one off the next time I'm in your area.

There are two versions floating around. One is wrong. I'll make sure I get the right one.

You guys are selling tools???? My tool sales have gone plain flat. Leatherman, Bucktools, Swisstools, all of them. I don't know when I last sold one. Christmas I think. I'm glad someone is moving them.

See ya.
Dennis



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Isn't it amazing how 2 cents worth of opinion takes up a quarter's worth of paper???

Please excuse the crayon. They won't let us have anything sharp in here.
wrightknife@ixpres.com

 
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